Celtic Connections Today – Monday January 17

Highlights coming up today at Celtic Connections is the Welsh wizard himself, Sir Tom Jones, who will showcase his vocal range away from the trademark tunes that made his name, but with a collection of gospel, blues and spiritual numbers. But while he may be a living legend, the festival is all about new talent too, which is where Danny Kyle’s Open Stage is proving so important for those seeking a big break, with plenty more besides.

Celtic Connections Danny Kyle’s Open Stage

Mon 17 January, 5pm

Free

Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Exhibition Hall

Hosted by Danny Kyle’s good friend Liz Clark, the Open Stage is a chance to see new musical talent as they try to win a coveted support slot at next year’s festival – and all absolutely free!

It’s arguable that the Welsh representation at previous Celtic Connections has been somewhat under strength. Not this year. Following a rapturous critical reception for last July’s back-to-roots release, Praise & Blame – his highest-charting record in a decade – Sir Tom Jones here performs the album in its entirety, a collection of gospel, blues and spiritual songs that has yet again surprised and delighted his myriad, multi-generational fans.

Jones has repeatedly proven himself a maestro of reinvention, and has loved and lived with the music on Praise & Blame since his Pontypridd childhood, from the Sunday morning chapel songs to the rockabilly and boogie-woogie of his workingmen’s-club apprenticeship; from his early country-styled classics to after-hours gospel singalongs with Elvis in Vegas during the 70s. Only now, however, does Jones himself deem his magnificent, soaring voice sufficiently seasoned to attain communion with this material, sourced from such diverse musical souls as Mahalia Jackson, Bob Dylan, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, John Lee Hooker and Billy Joe Shaver. Tom Jones will be backed by a six-piece band for this exclusive Celtic Connections performance.

Liz Carroll & Friends and Mairearad & Anna

Mon 17 January, 8pm

£12.50

Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Strathclyde Suite

Irish-American fiddler Liz Carroll’s career now spans more than 30 years, during which time she’s consistently set new standards of traditional artistry, as both a player and composer, most recently on her Grammy-nominated 2009 album with guitarist John Doyle, Double Play, and with the 2010 publication of Collected, a long-awaited compendium featuring 185 of her celebrated tunes. As with the book, tonight’s programme draws on the full range of her recorded output accompanied by the splendid keyboardist Tracey Dares MacNeill, from Cape Breton – solo, duo, and with the bands Trian and String Sisters – in company with Doyle and other longtime associates, including accordionist Billy McComiskey and multi-instrumentalist Seamus Egan.

The scintillating, near-telepathic double act of top tunesmiths Mairearad Green (accordion, bagpipes) and Anna Massie (fiddle, banjo, guitar) make music that’s impish, lyrical and brimming with joie de vivre.

Celtic Connections Late Night Sessions

Mon 17 January, 10pm

Free and not ticketed

Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Exhibition Hall

For a more intimate evening during the festival, enjoy our Late Night Sessions taking place in the Exhibition Hall at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, hosted by Findlay Napier. Featuring just as many great musicians as the main Festival Club, the bar will be open late and you can be assured of many a memorable moment.